Mechanism for automatically measuring coke by volume



Feb. 6, 1934.

MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY MEASURING COKE BY VOLUME A. J. WHITCOMB 1,946,120

2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed May 16, 1932 t GT5 5 Q N v: o N N lnvenfor" Amfhizr J. Whiicomb- Feb. 6, 1934. A. J. WHITCOMB 1,946,120

MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY MEASURING COKE BY VOLUME Filed May 16, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0? ya i yafl I Fig.4

inz/enior" Arthur J. Whiicomb Patented Feb. 6, 1934 MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY MEAS- URING COKE BY VOLUME Arthur J. Whitcomb, Chicago, 111., assignor to Freyn Engineering Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Maine Application May 16, 1932. Serial No. 611,656

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to mechanism for charging blast furnaces and has reference more particularly to skip hoist mechanism equipped with novel means for automatically measuring coke and like materials by volume and for charging the furnace therewith at definite points in a charging round.

The device of the present invention is associated with skip tubs which through hoisting means are caused to travel from the pit, where they are filled, to the top of the blast furnace, where the materials are discharged. Heretofore the means employed for charging the skip tube with coke did not provide for automatic volume measurement but for measurement of the coke by weight. Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is the provision of means which will operate automatically tocharge the skip tub with coke or such other electrically conductive material to a predetermined point, regardless of the position of the tubs within reasonable limits. Since the volume of the skip tubs when thus filled is easily determined each charging operation thereafter can be calculated directly in volume.

A further object is to provide automatic mechanism for lowering a set of electrodes into each of the skip tubs when a skip tub is located in the pit in position tobe filled with material, which material upon contacting the electrodes will close an electric circuit therethrough to discontinue the discharge of the material from the supply bins.

A further object is the provision'of electrical control means for efiecting automatically and in proper sequence the various operations of filling the skip tubs to the predetermined volume, hoisting the tubs to the top of the furnace where they discharge their contents, and lastly, returning the tubs to the pits where the operations are again repeated until the desired number of charging rounds have been completed. 7

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts Figure l is an elevational view illustrating the association of the skip tubs with the material supply bins and mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention for automatically charging and measuring the material by volume;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially through the center of the device of Figure 1 and showing the operating means for the electrodes so and the position they assume when lowered into the skip tub;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken through the electrode supporting shaft showing the manner of clamping the electrodes thereto, and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical hook-up for securing automatic operation of the charging of the skip tubs, volume measurement of the material thus charged, and the hoisting of the tubs to the top of the furnace.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the equipment disclosed comprises two central storage bins 10 and 11 for the coke or other material, each bin connecting with chutes 12 and 13, the chutes terminating above a plurality of tracks on which are adapted to travel the skip tubs l4 and 15, the tubs being suitably connected to hoisting means which operates to alternately cause travel of the tubs from the pit to the top of the blast furnace where they deliver their contents. Chute 12 is provided with gate 16 which is operated in a direction to open the gate by thruster 1'7 and biased in a direction to close by the counter-weight l8. Limit switches 20 and 21 are mounted adjacent to and adapted to be operated by the gate actuating mechanism which includes the thruster 17, the switch 20 being closed only when gate 16 is open, while limit switch 21 is open only when the gateis closed. In other words, limit switch 20 is biased to open position and limit switch 21 is biased to closed position.

In a like manner the chute 13 is equipped with gate 22 actuated by thruster 23 and counterweighted by 24 so as to maintain the gate normally closed. Limit switches 25 and 26 are associated with the thruster and are arranged so that switch 25 is closed when the gate is open, while switch 26 is open only when the gate 22 is closed. In other words, limit switch 25 is biased to open position and limit switch 26 is biased to closed position. Inasmuch as the thruster is now widely used and well known to the art it is deemed unnecessary to disclose any of its operating features, it being sufficient to state that the thruster comprises in effect a motor driven oil pump by 105 means of which actuation is imparted to the piston and thus the equipment connected therewith. Over each skip tub is suitably journalled shaft 27 having attached thereto a plurality of arms 28 counter-weighted by the weight 29 and carrying the electrode supporting shaft 30, Figure 3. To this shaft are secured four electrodes designated A, B, C and D by means of a clamp 31,-

while suitably keyed to the shaft are a pair of arms carrying counter-weights32, the latter functioning to maintain the electrodes in vertical position. Each electrode, constructed of any material conducting electricity but preferably made of steel, is adjustably supported in an insulator designated 33 and thus by adjustment of the col lars 34 the length of the electrodes can be varied as desired to vary the volume measurement, as will be more clearly understood as the description proceeds.

In Figure 1 skip tub 14 is in the pit, hence electrodes A and B are located in said tub. Electrodes C and D are also in lowered position but as skip tub is at the top of the furnace deliver ing its charge no action is secured from the latter electrodes. Thruster 35 is positioned above shaft 27 and is suitably connected to said shaft 2'7 by means of a cable and the pulley segment 36 mounted on the shaft. Actuation of thruster 35 in one direction functions to rotate shaft 27 to lower the electrodes so as to position them within the skip tubs. The arms 28 are lowered until they engage the sidesof the skip tub so that regardless of the location of the skip tubs within reasonable limits it will be seen that the electrodes will be positioned so as to extend into the tubs a uniform distance, which distance, however, may be varied by varying the adjustment of the electrodes. In other words, the mechanism illustrated causes the electrode supporting shaft to be brought into contact with the top of the skip tub provided the tub is located within reasonable limits of the point at which the tub is expected to stop. Hence the distance from the top of the skip tub to the end of the electrode is fixed. Limit switch 37 is closed when the tub 14 is in the pit. Likewise limit switch 38 closes when tub 15 is in the pit. Switches 40 and 41 are mounted adjacent to the thruster 35 and the linkage connected to the electrode operating mechanism in such a manner that when the electrodes are in their uppermost position switch 41 will be closed and will open as soon as the electrodes move out of their uppermost position. When half of their movement toward the lowermost position has been completed switch 40 will be closed and will remain closed during any further movement below this point.

The control for the equipment above described, shown in Figure 4, includes a face plate 42 having a plurality of terminals or buttons 43 to which are electrically connected an individual selector switch designated 44. Associated with the face plate is an arm 45 adapted to make connection successively with each of the terminals 43, the arm being driven by mechanism comprising part of the charging control system so that for each trip of a skip tub the arm is caused to move forward one button. The charging control or sequence control system which drives this face plate arm is not concerned with the present invention and need not be further described, it being sufficient to remember that the arm is moved forward one button on the return of each skip from the top of the furnace, and hence it provides a means of counting the skip tubs for a particular interval. The selector switches 44 provide a means for selecting the terminals from which it may be desired to secure action on the part of the coke control. Conductors and 51 comprise the power supply lines, being connected to any suitable source of electric power and are connected with the various apparatus forming the present equipment in a manner to be now described.

Relay 52 having four sets of contacts 52a, 52b, 52c and 52d, respectively, which close upon the application of power to the coil of this relay, has its coil connected from line 50 through limit switch 3'7 to line 51. Closure of any of the selector switches 44 will cause power to be transmitted from the line 50 through the face plate arm 45 through a terminal 43 and a switch 44 to the coil of relay 53 and thence through contacts 52a or contacts 54b of relay 54 and through contacts 55d of relay 55 to line 51. Shunted across the contacts 55d are the limit switches 21 and 26. The thruster 35 is connected across the lines by contacts 53a, while relay 56 is connected across the lines through contacts 531) and limit switch 40. Relay 56 has one set of normally open contacts 560; which serve to connect the coil of relay 57 having normally open contacts 57a and 57b across the lines 50 and 51 and in series with resistance 58. The electrodes A and D are connected to one side of the coil of relay 57, and electrodes B and C are connected to the other side of said coil.

The thruster 1'7 is connected across the power lines by means of contacts 57a and 52?), while the limit switch 20, associated with this thruster, and limit switch 25 are connected in parallel with each other to line 51 and to the coil of relay 55 and thus to line 50, the relay 55 having one set of normally closed contacts 55d and three sets of normally open contacts 55 55b and 550. shunted across the switches 20 and 25 is a circuit including the normally open contacts 550, and 520, while shunted across the latter contacts are contacts 54a.

The relay 60 is a latched relay and has two operating coils, one of which, the main coil, operates the relay so as to latch it closed by means of the latch 61, the other including the trip coil 62, serving to release the latch and the relay after deenergization of its main coil. Provided on the relay 60 is one set of normally open contacts 6011 which close upon energization of the coil 60 and one set of normally closed contacts 601) which open upon the energization of the coil. The coil of relay 60 is connected to conductors 50 and 51 through the sets of contacts 52d and 55b and limit switch 41. A push button 63 is shunted across the normally open set of contacts just mentioned. The relay 64 has one set of normally open contacts 64a which close when the coil is energized, the coil being connected to the power lines through contacts 60a. The contacts 6411 are connected to the skip hoist control in such a manner that when the contacts are closed the hoist will be caused to function so that skip tub 14 will be caused to travel to the top of the furnace. The thruster 23 for gate 22 is connected to the power lines through contacts 571) and 54c, the coil 54 of this latter contact being connected across the power lines through limit switch 38. The trip coil 62 is connected from line 50 through one set of normally open contacts 54d, a second set 550, and thence through limit switch 41 to line 51. shunted across the contacts 54d and 550 is a push button switch 65. The relay 66 has one set of contacts 66a, the coil of said relay beingv connected through the normally closed contact 60b to the power lines. Contacts 66a in turn have connection with the skip hoist control in a manner that when these contacts are closed the control is caused to function whereby skip tub 15 is hoisted to the top of the furnace.

The method of operation, assuming that a point has been reached in the round such that the arm is making contact with a terminal connecting with a selector switch 44, which is closed, and that the skip tub 14 is in the pit, is as follows:

The limit switch 37 which is closed by skip tub 14 in the pit completes a circuit in the coil of relay 52 which operates and closes its contacts to complete a circuit through the arm 45, relay 53 and contacts 52a and d. Energization of the coil of relay 53 causes said relay to operate and to close its contacts, which operate to complete a circuit through the thruster 35, whereupon actuation of the arms 28 takes place to lower the electrodes into the skip tub. The electrodes descend into the skip tub until the supporting shaft engages the sides of the tub, the thruster at this point being stalled but remaining in oper ation holding the electrodes in position. It will be noted that when the electrodes move out of their uppermost position the switch 41 is opened which prevents any further operation of the skip hoist control, thus preventing the skip tub from being hoisted while the electrodes are in position over the tub. Movement of the electrodes out of their uppermost position is accompanied by the closure of switch 40, completing the circuit through contacts 531) to energize the coil of re lay 56, closing contacts 56a, causing energization of relay 57. The relay 5? is thus actuated, closing its contacts. Closure of the contacts 57a completes a circuit through thruster 17 which operates to open the gate 16 permilting coke to discharge into the tub 14.

Actuation of the thrust 1'7 closes switch 20 to complete a circuit through relay 55 actuating the contacts of the same so that the normally open contacts will be closed and the normally closed contact will be open. Opening of contact 5512 breaks a portion of the circuit includingrelay 53.

J, However, since switch 21 is closed there is provided a by-pass around the contact 55d to keep the relay 53 energized. The closure of contacts 55a completes a circuit which by-passes the limit switch 20, the circuit connecting from one side of switch 20 through the contacts 55a through contacts 520 and conductor 51.

When the level of the coke in the skip tub is sufficient to touch electrodes A and B a by-pass is provided around coil 5'7 since coke is a conductor of electricity, and in consequence the relay 5'7 is short circuited with the result that said relay opens, opening the contacts thereon, and the circuit to the thruster 1'7 is thus broken, so that the gate 16 closes by reason of the counter-weight 18 shutting 011 the supply of coke.

When the gate 16 closes, switch 21 is opened, and inasmuch as contacts 5501 have been previously opened and inasmuch as contacts 541) are open de-energization of relay 53 results, causing the contacts thereon to also open, which in turn breaks the circuit to thruster 35, whereby the electrodes A, B, C and D return to their uppermost position through the action of the counterweights. When said electrodes reach their inoperative position limit switch 41 closes, completing a circuit through the coil of relay inasmuch as contacts 55b and 52d are closed at this time. Closing of the contacts actuated by relay 60 completes a circuit through relay 64 energizing the same and through the closing of its contacts 64a the skip hoist control is energized in a manner such that the skip tub 14 will be hoisted to the top of the furnace.

Relay 60 is a latched relay and its normally open contacts when closed are held by latch 61. When the tub 14 moves out of the pit limit switch 37 opens, breaking the circuit to relay 52, thereby opening its contacts to cause de-energization of the coil of relay 60. v r

The above completes the operation for the automatic filling of skip tub 14 to a predetermined level and automatically delivering the same to the furnace. 3 It will be understood that as skip tub 14 is hoisted to the top of the furnace, tub 15 is automatically returned to the pit and as the same enters the pit switch 38 is closed, energizing coil of relay 54to cause its contacts to close. The cycle of operations for the automatic filling to a predeterminedlevel of this skip tub will now be described. a

When the contacts on relay 54 close a circuit is completed through arm 45 through switch 44,.

relay 53, contact 54b and the normally closed contact 55d. This energization of relay 53 closes its contacts and energizes thruster 35. When electrodes C and D are in proper position in the skip tub the switch 40 is closed, as previously described, energizing relay 56 to in turn energize relay 5'7, completing a circuit through thruster 23 inasmuch as the contacts 57b and 540 are closed as previously described. Actuation of thruster 23 opens gate 22, thereby permitting coke to be discharged into the skip tub 15. Opening of the gate 22 is accompanied by the closure of limit switch 25 energizing relay 55, closing the normally open contacts associated therewithand opening thenormally closed contact, which action completes a holding in circuitaround switch-25 including contacts 55a and 54a.

When the coke reaches the electrodes in the tub 15, said electrodes will be electrically connected to short the coil of relay 5'7 to de-energize the relay and open its contacts, thereby breaking the circuit to thruster 23, with the result that the gate 22 is closed and'the supply of coke discontinued. However, closure of 1 the gate 22 is accompanied by the opening of limit switch 26 and since contacts 55d have been previously opened, the circuit through coil of relay 53 is broken, resulting in breaking the circuit to thruster 35. The electrodes are thus withdrawn by the counter-weights 29 from their lowermostposition and located in their uppermost position. This change in location of the electrodes actuates switch 41 to close the same, completing the circuit through trip coil of relay 62, it being recalled that contacts 550 and 5401 are closed at the time.

Operation of the relay 62 releases latch 61 to permit the contacts 60a on relay 60 to open and the contacts 60b to close, with the result that a circuit is completed through relay 66, operating the skip hoist control through closure of contacts 66a, whereby the skip 15 is hoisted to the top of the furnace. As the tub leaves the pit switch 38 is opened, breaking the circuit to relay 54 so that its contacts are opened, resulting first in de-energization of relay 62 and secondin de-energization of relay 55, thereby returning the control to its initial condition ready for a newsequence of operation. From the above it will be seen that a number of loads of coke can be automatically obtained and delivered to the furnace at any point in the charging round as may be required merely law) through the closing of the proper selector switches 44. v

The push button switches 63 and 65 are for the purpose of sending the skip tubs to the top of the furnace when materials other than coke are charged. For example, when ore, stone or scrap material is delivered to the skip tubs the push button switches 63 or 65. may be closed, with the result that the skip tub then in the pit will be hoisted to the furnace.

The equipment illustrated and described constitutes one embodiment of the present inven tion for automatically filling the skip tubs to a predetermined level, wherein the volume will be constant and for hoisting the tubs auto-- matically to the top of the furnace to deliver their charge. The face plate 42 and selector switches 44 can be removed and their work done by an operator if so desired. In this event the equipment will fill the tubs to the proper level at the will of an operator through the medium of a push button switch.

Other variations of this control will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1; In skip hoist mechanism for charging coke I to a blast furnace, the combination with skip tubs and supply bins, of means biased to closed position to prevent discharge of the coke from the bins, electrically operated means for opening the biased means, and electrodes constructed and arranged for location within the tubs a definite distance regardless of the position of the tubs within limits with respect thereto, said electrodes employing the electrical conductivity of the coke contacting the same to shut off the coke supply, and means for adjusting the length of the electrodes to vary the level of the coke in the tubs.

2. In skip hoist mechanism, in combination, a pair of skip tubs, means for hoisting each of said tubs while the other is being lowered, control means for delivering electrically conductive material alternately to said tubs when said tubs are in their lowermost positions, electrodes adapted to be positioned in said tubs when said tubs are in their lowermost positions, means for moving said electrodes into operative position, said tubs being provided with means for limiting the distance to which said electrodes may extend into said tubs, and control-means for said delivering means responsive to the electrical connection between said electrodes.

3 In skip hoist. mechanism, in combination, a pair of skip tubs, means for hoisting each of said tubs While the other is descending, control means for said hoisting means, said control means including a plurality of electrodes adapted to be positioned within each of said tubs when said tubs are in their lowermost positions, said electrodes being biased to positions out of said tubs, and. thrusting means i for moving said electrodes into operative position with respect to said tubs, said tubs being provided with limiting means for limiting the extent to which said thrusting means may thrust said electrodes into said tubs.

4. In skip hoist mechanism, in combination, a pair of skip tubs, means for hoisting each of said tubs while the other is descending, means for delivering electrically conductive material to each of said tubs when said tubs are in their lowermost positions and control means for said material delivering means and said hoisting means, said control means including a plurality of electrodes adapted to be positioned within said tubs, means fixed relative to said tubs to limit the extent to which said electrodes may be inserted into said tubs, and means for interrupting the energization of said hoisting mechanism when said electrodes are in position within either of said tubs.

5. In skip hoist mechanism, in combination, a pair of skip tubs, means for hoisting each of said tubs while the other is descending, means for delivering electrically conductive material to each of said tubs when said tub is in its lowermost position, control means for said hoisting means and said material delivering means, said control means including a plurality of electrodes adapted to be thrust into said tubs when said tubs are in their lowermost position, means fixed relative to each of said tubs for limiting the extent to which said electrodes may be inserted lIltO' BltheI" of said tubs, and means responsive to the position of said electrodes for controlling the operation of said hoisting means and said material delivering means. 7 V

6. In skip hoist mechanism, in combination, a skip tub means for delivering electrically conductive :material to said skip tub, electrodes adapted to be positioned within said tub, means for thrusting said electrodes into said tub, and limit means fixed relative to said tub for defining the limit to which saidthrusting means may move said electrodes into said tub.

'7. In skip hoist mechanism, in combination, a skip tub, means for delivering electrically conductivematerial to said skip tub, electrode means adapted to be positioned within said tub, means for thrusting said electrode means into said tub, and limit means fixed relative to said tub for defining the limit to which said thrusting means may move said electrode means into said tub.

8. In skip hoist mechanism, in combination, a skip tub, a rocker shaft, electrodes adjustably carried by said rocker shaft, said electrodes being adapted to be positioned within said skip tub when said skip tub is in position to receive material, means for rocking said rocker shaft to position said electrodes out of said tub, thrustor means for thrusting said electrodes into said tub, and means fixed relative to said tub for limiting the extent to which said thruster means may move said electrodes into said tub.

9. In skip hoist mechanism, in combination, a skip tub, a rocker shaft, electrode means adjustably carried by said rocker shaft, said electrode means being adapted to be positioned within said skip tub when said skip tub is in position to receive material, means for rocking said rocker shaft to position said electrode means out of said tub, thruster means for thrusting said ARTHUR J. WHITCOMB. 

